Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, part 2

[ddb]

Some random thoughts. I was looking at the Celts roster and current cap situation the other day. Took a pretty deep dive into where things are at. My takeaway is that Brad can't possibly be done maneuvering.
Roster-wise the depth chart isn't adding up. I understand Queta is looking pretty good and may be in line for an expanded role. I get that Chris Boucher is serviceable. I get that the front office sees something in Garza. But when I look at that frontline it's in contention to be one of the worst front courts in the league. Hornets big man depth chart is awful too. I mention this because winning basketball games requires interior defense and rebounding. Would be nice to go 5 out on offense at times too.
Then I look at the ball handlers. White, Pritchard, Simons....Good offensively. Pretty rough defensively when factoring in that Pritchard & Simons on paper will be playing big roles.
The wing position is the deepest on the team depth chart wise, but experience wise its really just JB & Hauser. Hugo, Baylor, Minnot, Walsh are all essentially in the same position career wise in trying to establish themselves as NBA players.

These exercises help us remove the rose pedal glasses. And when I do, major concern about this year's team. Boston is a JB or White injury away from being deep into the lottery.

Cap wise they still aren't in great position either. Clearly, they still need to shed more. So, ultimately wouldn't you say there's more to come? I suppose they can accomplish all of this in-season. But I have a feeling Brad has something up his sleeve.

[Celts17Pride]

Some random thoughts. I was looking at the Celts roster and current cap situation the other day. Took a pretty deep dive into where things are at. My takeaway is that Brad can't possibly be done maneuvering.
Roster-wise the depth chart isn't adding up. I understand Queta is looking pretty good and may be in line for an expanded role. I get that Chris Boucher is serviceable. I get that the front office sees something in Garza. But when I look at that frontline it's in contention to be one of the worst front courts in the league. Hornets big man depth chart is awful too. I mention this because winning basketball games requires interior defense and rebounding. Would be nice to go 5 out on offense at times too.
Then I look at the ball handlers. White, Pritchard, Simons....Good offensively. Pretty rough defensively when factoring in that Pritchard & Simons on paper will be playing big roles.
The wing position is the deepest on the team depth chart wise, but experience wise its really just JB & Hauser. Hugo, Baylor, Minnot, Walsh are all essentially in the same position career wise in trying to establish themselves as NBA players.

These exercises help us remove the rose pedal glasses. And when I do, major concern about this year's team. Boston is a JB or White injury away from being deep into the lottery.

Cap wise they still aren't in great position either. Clearly, they still need to shed more. So, ultimately wouldn't you say there's more to come? I suppose they can accomplish all of this in-season. But I have a feeling Brad has something up his sleeve.

Like I have been saying, I will be really surprised if something doesn't happen around Sep 6 - Sep 10th. That's the week to get things done. I don't think Brad Stevens wants to be doing things in mid to late September just before training camp on Sep 29th.

[Hal14]

I'm a big Sam fan and I think this could be his PP type of breakout year, but with Rico and Ooooogo' I think he has become movable if one of those guys can step up. If they both play well, their combined salary is half of Sam's.

If Sam starts off hot, he could be the guy a contending team targets in February and IMO he could easily fetch a 1st rd pick in 26'.

Looking at next years money (170mil), take away Sam's 10mil and you could easily sign Simons (if he scores his average and improves on D). A Sam move would also open up money for Neems in 26/27 (4yrs/60mil) if he plays well enough this season.

For 26/27', JT, JB, White, Simons, PP, Neems, Rico, Oooogo', Garza isn't terrible for a sub 200mil payroll.

I still think this years roster gets the C's a mid-teens pick maybe even a high lottery, plus a Sam 1st rd trade pick could infuse another quality young player.

I like Sam as well, but I actually wish we'd flipped him for a 2nd and kept Luke. His deal with SAS is basically the same money. It would have been better roster balance. Like you mentioned we have plenty of young wings (Walsh too). I'd feel a lot better about our frontcourt if it was Luke, Queta and Garza. That with Boucher and Minott is respectable enough until Tatum is back.

I don't think Brad cares about being respectable until Tatum is back.

Brad's moves this offseason indicate he doesn't care how many games we win this season.

The priority is slashing payroll...and then once Tatum is back healthy..at that point we figure out how to try and put together a roster good enough to win another ring with Tatum in his prime.

We have plenty of time (until the 2027 playoffs) to add another center.

Also:

a) It's much easier, less work, less help is needed from other NBA GM's to simply keep Sam and let Kornet sign with the Spurs...rather than having to find a good trade for Hauser *and* try and negotiate that FA contract with Kornet

b) They're both solid bench players. That's all they have ever been. If you're gonna pay over $10mil a year for a bench player, ideally you are keeping the guy who is still 27 yrs old, rather than the guy who is 30. That's a lot of money and a lot of years on the contract for a 30 year old career bench player who has been on a minimum contract for basically his entire career.

It's not such a bad contract for a 27 yr old who is one of the best shooters in the league. Not to mention, Kornet was on the bench for pretty much the entire postseason the year we won the title. Tillman and Brissett probably made more valuable contributions during that playoff run than Kornet did. Meanwhile, Hauser was in the rotation all reg season that year and all playoffs.

Plus, Hauser being a 27 old sniper 3&D guy is also a better trade chip than a 30 yr old backup big who no longer shoots 3's.

[Hal14]

Some random thoughts. I was looking at the Celts roster and current cap situation the other day. Took a pretty deep dive into where things are at. My takeaway is that Brad can't possibly be done maneuvering.
Roster-wise the depth chart isn't adding up. I understand Queta is looking pretty good and may be in line for an expanded role. I get that Chris Boucher is serviceable. I get that the front office sees something in Garza. But when I look at that frontline it's in contention to be one of the worst front courts in the league. Hornets big man depth chart is awful too. I mention this because winning basketball games requires interior defense and rebounding. Would be nice to go 5 out on offense at times too.
Then I look at the ball handlers. White, Pritchard, Simons....Good offensively. Pretty rough defensively when factoring in that Pritchard & Simons on paper will be playing big roles.
The wing position is the deepest on the team depth chart wise, but experience wise its really just JB & Hauser. Hugo, Baylor, Minnot, Walsh are all essentially in the same position career wise in trying to establish themselves as NBA players.

It doesn't matter. It's a gap year. We're not trying to win this year.

The goal for 25-26 season is slash payroll, get under the 2nd apron, develop our young guys, rest our vets. We'll be back to contending for titles again when Tatum is healthy.

These exercises help us remove the rose pedal glasses. And when I do, major concern about this year's team. Boston is a JB or White injury away from being deep into the lottery.

That's not a concern. It's a good thing.

If you're a team that has no shot at a title, that is essentially punting the season, the best possible outcome for the season is getting as high of a draft pick as possible.

[djFan71]

I'm a big Sam fan and I think this could be his PP type of breakout year, but with Rico and Ooooogo' I think he has become movable if one of those guys can step up. If they both play well, their combined salary is half of Sam's.

If Sam starts off hot, he could be the guy a contending team targets in February and IMO he could easily fetch a 1st rd pick in 26'.

Looking at next years money (170mil), take away Sam's 10mil and you could easily sign Simons (if he scores his average and improves on D). A Sam move would also open up money for Neems in 26/27 (4yrs/60mil) if he plays well enough this season.

For 26/27', JT, JB, White, Simons, PP, Neems, Rico, Oooogo', Garza isn't terrible for a sub 200mil payroll.

I still think this years roster gets the C's a mid-teens pick maybe even a high lottery, plus a Sam 1st rd trade pick could infuse another quality young player.

I like Sam as well, but I actually wish we'd flipped him for a 2nd and kept Luke. His deal with SAS is basically the same money. It would have been better roster balance. Like you mentioned we have plenty of young wings (Walsh too). I'd feel a lot better about our frontcourt if it was Luke, Queta and Garza. That with Boucher and Minott is respectable enough until Tatum is back.

I don't think Brad cares about being respectable until Tatum is back.

Brad's moves this offseason indicate he doesn't care how many games we win this season.

The priority is slashing payroll...and then once Tatum is back healthy..at that point we figure out how to try and put together a roster good enough to win another ring with Tatum in his prime.

We have plenty of time (until the 2027 playoffs) to add another center.

Also:

a) It's much easier, less work, less help is needed from other NBA GM's to simply keep Sam and let Kornet sign with the Spurs...rather than having to find a good trade for Hauser *and* try and negotiate that FA contract with Kornet

b) They're both solid bench players. That's all they have ever been. If you're gonna pay over $10mil a year for a bench player, ideally you are keeping the guy who is still 27 yrs old, rather than the guy who is 30. That's a lot of money and a lot of years on the contract for a 30 year old career bench player who has been on a minimum contract for basically his entire career.

It's not such a bad contract for a 27 yr old who is one of the best shooters in the league. Not to mention, Kornet was on the bench for pretty much the entire postseason the year we won the title. Tillman and Brissett probably made more valuable contributions during that playoff run than Kornet did. Meanwhile, Hauser was in the rotation all reg season that year and all playoffs.

Plus, Hauser being a 27 old sniper 3&D guy is also a better trade chip than a 30 yr old backup big who no longer shoots 3's.

Wasn't about this year. Kornet is signed for multiple years. And good centers are hard to find.
I said A in my follow up post - but it was doable.
B, agree they're both solid role players. But, age doesn't matter for either of them on their current deals. Luke will be 33 for the 4th year of his deal (July bday he turns 34). That's fine for a center.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

With the stacked rosters and Draft Picks available to OKC and The Spurs, unless the Celtics grab an Impactful Player in the Lottery, they are not going to be in Title Contention for awhile...

[165bows]

Really surprised there hasn’t been another trade idk what to say

Be patient. I guarantee there will be a trade…..eventually.

Oh I'm very patient I was just I was told there would be guy

[Bad-Thoma]

So I just read where Ben Simmons and Russ Westbrick are "threatening to sit out the year If they aren't offered more than the Minimum"

Damn, that'll teach the NBA. The NBA may collapse without them

I saw a story that said both might go without a deal going into the season as they are both hoping for more than the minimum but didn't see anything about threatening, where did you see that?

I read it opening up my Home Page yesterday. I don't remember who wrote it.

The gif is just because I know you love them

[Fierce1]

What's stopping the Celtics and other teams aggregating players now and making it official after September 7?

[Hal14]

What's stopping the Celtics and other teams aggregating players now and making it official after September 7?

Good point.

There was other trades earlier in the offseason where it got announced by Shams, but then it didn't become official until 2 days or even 10 days later..

Brad is certainly not one to wait around..if he's got a deal in place, it gets announced right away, as we saw with the Horford/Kemba deal which was announced when the playoffs were still going on.

[redslastlaugh]

After Jrue, I wouldn't want to announce any trade until it's done.

Celts announced Jrue for Anfernee Simons and 2 second round picks more than a week before it could become official
In that interim, PDX fans went nuts like, "why is Boston able to get 2 picks, we're the ones helping them, look at their tax predicament"

And then, lo and behold, time for the trade to be official and Portland takes back the picks and we don't get them.

why announce it before it can be officially completed, you let the other teams fanbase express feedback on social media, and this just makes it more likely the deal falls apart.

What's stopping the Celtics and other team's aggregating players now and making it official after September 7?

Good point.

There was other trades earlier in the offseason where it got announced by Shams, but then it didn't become official until 2 days or even 10 days later..

Brad is certainly not one to wait around..if he's got a deal in place, it gets announced right away, as we saw with the Horford/Kemba deal which was announced when the playoffs were still going on.

[Hal14]

After Jrue, I wouldn't want to announce any trade until it's done.

Celts announced Jrue for Anfernee Simons and 2 second round picks more than a week before it could become official
In that interim, PDX fans went nuts like, "why is Boston able to get 2 picks, we're the ones helping them, look at their tax predicament"

And then, lo and behold, time for the trade to be official and Portland takes back the picks and we don't get them.

why announce it before it can be officially completed, you let the other teams fanbase express feedback on social media, and this just makes it more likely the deal falls apart.

What's stopping the Celtics and other team's aggregating players now and making it official after September 7?

Good point.

There was other trades earlier in the offseason where it got announced by Shams, but then it didn't become official until 2 days or even 10 days later..

Brad is certainly not one to wait around..if he's got a deal in place, it gets announced right away, as we saw with the Horford/Kemba deal which was announced when the playoffs were still going on.

Teams don't care what the fans think. They definitely are not going in and altering trades based on their fans social media activity.

The Jrue trade was an outlier - that's like a 1 in a 1,000 case where a deal got announced, then a few days later before it could be finalized, the terms of the deal got changed.

There has been tons and tons of other deals over the years where it got announced 2-10 days before it could be made official.

And in the Jrue trade, the picks got taken out of the deal because of Jrue's medicals..not because of anything some fans said on social media:

https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2025/07/07/jrue-holiday-trade-altered-celtics-blazers-brad-stevens-comments/

Lastly, no deal can be fully completed until the players involved get a physical anyways, so even if we waited to announce the Jrue trade, the picks would have gotten taken out of it.

[jfs1000d]

Point is:

a) Wyc said 2 months before Tatum injury that the team would absolutely get under 2nd apron

b) Rumors when the offseason began were that Jrue and KP would be traded to get the team under the 2nd apron..and that Hauser might get traded too. But the 2 guys who were definitely gonna get moved were Jrue and KP. Brad said in a presser that he even told Jrue and KP that there's a good chance they would get traded to give them a heads up, so they weren't blindsided

c) The first move we made this offseason was trading Jrue

Therefore, Tatum's injury did not really have anything to do with us trading Jrue. He was traded because of the 2nd apron. Brad even said that in a presser - Jrue and KP were traded because of the 2nd apron and the team building penalties that come with it.

But the Celtics didn't need to trade Jrue to get under the second apron and would not have if Tatum doesn't get hurt. And Al would have been back too.

Not true.

Even before the playoffs started, reports were already coming out that there was no way the Cs would be paying a 500m payroll.

You can check because there are a number of articles, before playoffs, about the Cs going to cut payroll after the season.

The payroll had to be managed like this. It makes it impossible.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jfs1000d]

Steve Bulpett rumor on Anfernee Simons:

Anfernee Simons’ Future With Celtics Remains Uncertain: NBA Executives

There’s a very good reason Anfernee Simons Celtic jerseys aren’t exactly a hot item at the NBA Store.

Because he may never get to wear one.

In terms of trade possibilities, one general manager told Heavy on Celtics flatly, “They’re still very much willing to talk about Simons.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/anfernee-simons-future-with-celtics-remains-uncertain-nba-executives/ar-AA1LqNgl?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=4b412d1236ec41a5a482d2383900e528&ei=103

That article also says:

A Trade Could Take Awhile
Be that as it may, another rival front office granted that Simons could be traded before the ink on this online story dries. But he talked up the possibility that a move could take a while.

“Anfernee Simons makes $27-plus million,” he said. “Who’s got room to put that in their cap? And he’s up after this year, so the Celtics aren’t going to want to take back anything that would load in more salary of less flexibility.

“I think, unless they are presented with some sweetheart situation, the most likely time for Simons to get moved — again, if he even does — would be at the trade deadline.

“I could see Boston being out of it and another team thinking they need a scorer like Simons to put them over the top. I could see another team that’s close wanting to add that kind of firepower down the stretch and into the playoffs. Even if it’s a rental, a team might go for him, because what we’re seeing now with the second apron and all that, if you win, it’s hard to keep a team with high-priced guys together. An expiring deal is so valuable.”

If Anfernee Simons Stays With the Celtics, a Front Office Source Says, ‘I Bet You He’s Their Leading Scorer’
After a brief discussion of how some of those changes might look as they transition from theory to real NBA life, the front office guy doubled down on Celtic Simons.

“I bet you he’s their leading scorer,” he said. “Even with Jaylen. He’s going to have the ball a lot, and that dude can really score. That offense is going to have to change to accommodate him, and, on the last year of his contract, he’s going to let it fly.

“As the kids say, he’s a bucket. He is. That dude is a bucket. He can really fill it up. And remember, he was averaging around 20 in the West. What do you think he’s going to do in the Eastern Conference, which is a LOT less competitive? How’s he not going to score and score big?”

Simons is a player we would die for but on this team next year or two years from now.

This isn't ability. This is contract length, contract cost vs salary cap vs. short term prognosis (25-26.).

It makes no sense to extend him which leads to the question, why have him at all then?

He is the least valuable player on the team right now and has nothing to do with talent. He is paid appropriately for his ability. It just holds no value when you factor in all the variables.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[phincsfan]

If the ownership group never changed, I'd bet anything Bam would eventually be a Celtic.

With new ownership, I really think they will try to focus on the JT, JB and to an extent a White core, but I am starting to believe they want to leave their own mark on the future of the organization.

I also see Stevens eventually getting a HC offer from a big time college program, and this time he doesn't say no.

[2Mas]

If the ownership group never changed, I'd bet anything Bam would eventually be a Celtic.

With new ownership, I really think they will try to focus on the JT, JB and to an extent a White core, but I am starting to believe they want to leave their own mark on the future of the organization.

I also see Stevens eventually getting a HC offer from a big time college program, and this time he doesn't say no.

How does any of this equate to each other?

How does new ownership have to do with Bam?

[phincsfan]

If the ownership group never changed, I'd bet anything Bam would eventually be a Celtic.

With new ownership, I really think they will try to focus on the JT, JB and to an extent a White core, but I am starting to believe they want to leave their own mark on the future of the organization.

I also see Stevens eventually getting a HC offer from a big time college program, and this time he doesn't say no.

How does any of this equate to each other?

How does new ownership have to do with Bam?

They have nothing to do with each other.

Old ownership would keep building around JT and JB. That was my Bam comment.

New ownership may want to go in another direction.

Stevens could very well be a college HC in a few years.

[Curmudgeon]

The new ownership will go in the direction that increases their equity in the franchise. That means they won't tank voluntarily unless it's for a generational talent. If White or Brown goes down with a serious injury in October they may tank involuntarily buit they won't do it unless they have to.

These guys have spent 6 billion dollars on an illiquid investment. You can't sell it on a stock exchange and the market for a private sale is limited to a very few wealthy investors. The only way to make money is to sell the team (or your interest in the team if you are a minority investor) for more than you paid for it, after accounting for inflation. What makes the team more valuable? There are many factors, but one of the biggest is winning.

[fallguy]

The new ownership will go in the direction that increases their equity in the franchise. That means they won't tank voluntarily unless it's for a generational talent. If White or Brown goes down with a serious injury in October they may tank involuntarily buit they won't do it unless they have to.

These guys have spent 6 billion dollars on an illiquid investment. You can't sell it on a stock exchange and the market for a private sale is limited to a very few wealthy investors. The only way to make money is to sell the team (or your interest in the team if you are a minority investor) for more than you paid for it, after accounting for inflation. What makes the team more valuable? There are many factors, but one of the biggest is winning.

I'm pretty sure Boston's record in 25-26 will not affect what Chisholm gets for the Celtics in 15, 20 or more years.

[Curmudgeon]

The new ownership will go in the direction that increases their equity in the franchise. That means they won't tank voluntarily unless it's for a generational talent. If White or Brown goes down with a serious injury in October they may tank involuntarily buit they won't do it unless they have to.

These guys have spent 6 billion dollars on an illiquid investment. You can't sell it on a stock exchange and the market for a private sale is limited to a very few wealthy investors. The only way to make money is to sell the team (or your interest in the team if you are a minority investor) for more than you paid for it, after accounting for inflation. What makes the team more valuable? There are many factors, but one of the biggest is winning.

I'm pretty sure Boston's record in 25-26 will not affect what Chisholm gets for the Celtics in 15, 20 or more years.

Not in the short run. But if the mediocrity continues, it will. The failed Pitino regime certainly helped Grousbeck & Co. to purchase the franchise in 2002 for the bargain price of $360M.